Shloka 21
अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः
Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge
Devanagari script
ततस्ते तामुषित्वा तु रजनीं तत्र तापसा: । हुताग्नयो जप्तजप्या: प्रतस्थुर्मज्जिघांसया
Transliteration
tatas te tām uṣitvā tu rajanīṁ tatra tāpasāḥ | hutāgnayo japtajapyāḥ pratasthur majjighāṁsayā ||
Translation
随后，那些苦行者在彼处过了一夜。黎明时分，他们供奉圣火、诵毕应诵之咒，便从那座林苑离去，怀着要杀我的意念。
Word by Word
ततःthen/from there
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
तेthey
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
ताम्that (night)
ताम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formfeminine, accusative, singular
उषित्वाhaving stayed
उषित्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootवस् (उष्-आदेशः)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage)
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
रजनीम्night
रजनीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरजनी
Formfeminine, accusative, singular
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
तापसाःascetics
तापसाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतापस
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
हुताग्नयःhaving offered into the fire (having performed fire-offerings)
हुताग्नयः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootहुताग्नि
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
जप्तजप्याःhaving recited the (prescribed) japa
जप्तजप्याः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootजप्तजप्य
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
प्रतस्थुःset out/departed
प्रतस्थुः:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-स्था
Formperfect (liṭ), third, plural, parasmaipada
मज्जिघांसयाwith the desire to kill me
मज्जिघांसया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootमज्जिघांसा
Formfeminine, instrumental, singular
Speaker
राम उवाच
Characters & Entities
R
Rama (speaker)T
tāpasāḥ (ascetics)Ā
āśrama (hermitage)A
agni (sacred fire)J
japa (mantra recitation)R
rajanī (night)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that ritual purity (fire-offerings, japa) does not automatically guarantee moral purity; ethical evaluation in dharma depends crucially on intention (bhāva). Hostile intent can corrupt actions that appear outwardly pious.
After staying the night at the hermitage, the ascetics complete their morning rites—tending the sacred fire and reciting mantras—and then depart with the purpose of killing the speaker, Rama.